South Africa VS Bangladesh Test Series
1st Test Played at Kingsmead, Durban South Africa (31 March-4 April 2022)
South Africa 1st Innings 367 All Out (Temba Bavuma 93, Dean Elgar 67, Simon Harmer 38*, Khaled Ahmed 4/92, Mehedy Hasan Miraj 4/94, Ebadat Hossain (2/86) and 2nd Innings 204 All Out (Dean Elger 64, Ryan 39*, Keegan Peterson 36, Ebadat Hossain 3/40, Mehedy H Miraj 3/85) beat
Bangladesh 1st Innings 298 All Out (Mahmudul Hasan Joy 137, Litton K Das 41 Nazmul Hossain Shanto 38, Mehedy Hasan Miraj 29, Yasir Ali 22, Simon Harmer 4/103, Lizaad Williams 3/54)
Bangladesh Second Innings 53 All Out in 19 overs (Nazmul H Shanto 26, K Maharaj 7/32, Simon Harmer3/21) by 220 runs.
Player of the match: Keshav Maharaj.
It was like a Tsunami that was triggered by Maharaj and Harmer at Kingsmead yesterday. Bangladesh was bruised, batted overwhelmed and humiliated.
The two bowling at tandem on a gripping, turning 5th day wicket swept away clueless Bangladesh batting to their second lowest test innings score of 53. Bangladesh losing by 220 hugely disappointed its adoring fans all over the world. We are not sure when in the past any test team starting bowling with two spinners grabbed all 10 wickets of any opponent bowling unchanged. The blast of Keshav Maharaj 7/32 and Simon Harmer 3/ 21 led to team tigers surrendering in only 19 overs. It so cruelly proved that opting to bat after winning the toss on a wicket having realistic potential for assisting spin was suicidal. So was the decision of not playing test match special Taijul Islam.
Other talks of umpiring mistakes sound like unacceptable excuses. Bangladesh lost by huge margin to a second grade team of third grade attack. Batsmen specially Shadman, Mominul and Mushfique must be ashamed the way they batted. Bangladeshi bowlers in both innings bowled superbly. The pathetic test records of Bangladesh playing in South Africa got extended. With Taskin and Shoriful not available the profuse bleeding caused from such defeat may not be healed before the second test starting at Port Elizabeth in few days time. All mighty saves Bangladesh.
Durban wicket traditionally assisted fast bowlers for its fast bouncy nature .It also assisted spinners on day four and five . But never in the past it assisted spinners so much all the way. Bangladesh team planners made a huge mistake in ignoring their most experienced left arm spinner Taijul Islam for the test. Ultimately it turned out that playing 8 batsmen did not help. Taijul could make his impact on a wicket where Keshav Mahraj tormented. Another huge mistake was opting to bowl after wining the toss. Day one was the best time to bat and day five was the worst. It was a suicide what Mominul did. Yes couple of 50:50 umpiring decision went against them. Bangladesh also did not take DRS smartly. Ultimately the margin of difference was so huge that finding excuses would be childish. Bangladesh was completely outplayed. Yes at Durban India was all out scoring 66 in an innings in 1996. Australia was also bundled out for 76. But the manner in which Bangladesh was dismantled on day five beggars’ description.
However, one must not devalue the huge credit of winning the ODI series only a few days back with this humiliating defeat in Durban test. Bangladesh is a very good team in ODI cricket. They always have potential for winning against any team on their day in ODI format on any surface. Tigers are still trying to find their feet in test cricket.
No one denies that this South Africa team is the weakest that they have fielded in test in recent time. Only Dean Elger and Ksehav Maharaj had some experience. Even Temba Bahuma and Keegan Peterson are new comers. Bangladesh team had far more experienced players. After winning the historic test in New Zealand they were considered favorites.
Bangladesh could not take advantage in the first session of day one. Pacers bowled on wrong length and line. Although they improved in the second and the third session South Africa moved ahead scoring 234/4 on day one. Bangladesh bowlers specially Khaled and Mehidy bowling appreciably could restrict home team to 367 in the first innings. If Bangladesh could grab all opportunities coming their way and take DRS smartly it was possible restricting South Africa below 300. Bangladesh reply was terrible melt down of the top order excepting Mahmudul Hasan joy. Shadman, Mominul and Mushfique batting like novice against tall off spinner Simon Harmer. However, Mahmudul Hasan Joy produced an excellent innings of 137 full of character, patience and commitment. Litton K Das, Yasir and Miraj also batted well. But conceding 69 runs first innings lead was decisive. Bangladesh bowlers did well restricting home team to 204 all out in the second innings. Yes it could be at least 60 -70 runs less if some 50:50 umpiring decisions went their way. Chasing 200 instead of 274 could be so different.
But the way Bangladesh succumbed to Mahraraj and Harmer in the second innings getting all out for 53 in only 19 overs can have no excuse. I would blame Mominul and Mushfique most. They are known to be better players of spin. All except Nazmul Hossein Shanto appeared like Alice In The Wonder Land. At 33/7 the apprehension of getting below 43 the lowest innings total of Bangladesh was looming. Luckily Taskin with some hefty striking avoided that. Yet world cricket witnessed a very rare two spinners opening the attack and running through the innings. Well done South Africa. Perhaps Bangladesh realized that, “All that glitters is not gold.” The sooner Bangladesh forgets the nightmare would the better. It looked the same sand production in Bibiyana gas wells causing gas draught in Bangladesh gas system.
BDST: 1155 HRS, APR 05, 2022
SMS
